Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-06
what would appear to be their truo amount


The report OF the State treasurer exhibits
TIE Operations ~ that Jsp.ft;uspt " me
5tAto Governn emf and shows the receipts
and ex! enditures TO be Us follows:
heeetpts--Balanoe In treasury at settle.
ment with Legislative committee on
january -, 1856, S7,6I5 40; receipts slnce
that settlement TO january LIST, Inst, Sl2l, ;.
l9O.6l probable receipts, due aud payable
january 1st., inst, e57 ,796 81; total re-
eeipts, present aud probable, S1S6 3l2 a
Expen1ltures-Total amount paid cut to
january LIST, inst, 5l90.02S.24; leaving d
probable balance Of 500 .77i II, which will
DO applicable to the payment Of the current
expenses and interest Of this next year.
School Fund The treasurer's account a.
trustee Of the school fund shows tn, follow
inR faots, viz: Rseeip'3-.r"t5il NnG, ;is re.
cetved from all sources 10 Auengi last
sSS, zoo 95 received from August to IitcArn.
Der 9lst, Sl7,2T6,GA to,sl receipts
l9lo97S3 7i..l ESrTndl aros Eda ost 4
county, 49,, s58 %; Kent s2a, 2sG SO: Sussex,
S2s, 1886 10; total, SIS, $500, I.aii out on
account oil Now Castle couny to P,,husyl.
vahia IastlF,t'lon for tho Blind, ; ,O41;
total payments, $54 $685. haL,Gcs 10 credit
Of school fund, $40, 1856 %.
Tho sinking fund biennial collections ant
outRohs show balance TO Its Gre III oil
"a 62979. The treasurer also reports the
sum OF SIS, S56,G6 due the State from the
D., NJ. & v. Railroad Company, payable by
statute whenever the net earnings Of the
company shall exceed per cent ON lta
capital stock.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMESDMRNTs.
For some time past public attention has
been called to the subject Of revision Of the
constitution Of our State by means OF II con-
yention. 1t Is OF the first Importance to In
quire whether the defects In the organic law
1 al n nj nah nh tngs, q,
Justify the calling of a convention. Most
of the provisions of the present constitution
which have been tested by the experience
| of over half century, meet with, we
believe, general approval, yet 1t Is undenia-
| BILE that there is great and growing feel
ing that some changes and reforms he made.
| 1t is we'll for us oil to n member thar our
| constitution is not the work Of n
single political party; the leading aud
| aeliYe members of the convention which
| gave L being were not only among the most
gifted and distinguished men ia the State,
many Of them having had considerable ex-
perlence in dellberatlve bodies, but were
fairly representative OF the two great po-
litical parties existing at the time. Amend
| ments, commensurate with the dem ands of
| the people, have from time to time heen in
| corporated In our organic law. Popular
| demand for reformation should, at all times,
be Needed, and Its accomplishment assisted.
Reforms, to be safe, should be gradual, aud
| ought not TO be made too difficult avoiding
oil strains. Opportunity for comprehsndlng
all measures should be given, without hasty
/ action.
Amendments by the Legislature have
| great advantages, securing car full deliber-
alton before changing an established law In
| its separate wants, and without log-rolling.
And, even Il 1t be urged that many reforms
| are demanded and required to meet the
changed condition Of affairs, still, is 1t not
| better TO have few notifications at time
/ presented for tho consideration Of the
| people Ia Wow of the permanent law to be
established? The difficulty Is, to devise a
| plan 50 that reforms by means of leRisla-
tive opnetmeuts may he more easily attain.
able.
Article ninth Of the constitution OF the
Suite provides that +" the General Assembly,
| whenever two-thirds OF each house shall
| deem II ne essary may, with tho approba-
| ton OF the governor, propose amendments
to this constitution, and mt least three ami
not more than six months before the next
| general election OF representatives, duIS
| puhiIsh them In print for the consideration
Of the people; and If thret-fourths e euch
branch Of the Legislature shall, after sue
| an election and berOfa another, ratlfJ III
said amendments, they shall be vAlil 20 Al
lntents and purposes as parts of this con
/ stitution."
4
/ qutred for ratification WAS changed to two
| thirds instead of three fourthsp If eacb
| branch OF the legislature, 1t would enable
| reforms to be more eGsly attained. and you
| would still preserve the wholesome checks
j on il-adyised aud hasty changes. We have
Il safe guide for amendments provided by
| article fifth OF the constitution Of the United
| States, where II ratification is required to be
made, not by three-f0urths of each branch
| If the legislatures Of the several states, but
/ by ''the legislatures Of three fourths OF the
| several states" Each state can raiify IN
amendment to the constitution by u ma.
| jnrity vote In its legislature, and three
touring of ~ the states must so net. 1t
| would be more difficult to obtain unanimtty
| IN one state than simple majority In 98
| states, No better illustration OF the imprac-
tieabiiity Of attempting amendments 70 our
| state con tiiutiOn, by making three fo'irths
| ut the sncGRrdihg legislature requisite for n
change, could be cited than was given In
the result tieo years ago, when a single
/ vote defeated u general public continent
and broke tho pledge Of a party honestly
| given
A two-thlrds majority is ample, especially
| VIXEN two Legislatures are required to pass
upon tth amendment
II Is doubtless true that many Of tho ad-
v0Gates- prominent aud thoughtful citizens
| for State convention, contelnpla only
4
u convention, ~ this time, aIAld the many
dangerous questions floating In the public
| mind All pressing for attention, would,
| when 0GG@ thn way WIS opened, expose our
| little State 10 great dangers.
by allowing Legislative amendment to no
maize reIaonatly pra6tieable,as before said,
I'm opportunity ior all needed reforms can
| be had.
| deem 1t my duty to call your attention, Jas
| did IN previous communications to former
/ Legislatures. to reforms that believe the
people desire, and which would be first to
claim the attention Of convention, II
/ ordered First. The Question of repre-
senatiou In the General Assembly. trust,
tn your wisdom, you will be able to pro-
| pose an amendment In this important par
\ tieular satisfactory to the people. The
| same demand exists now as In the past, and
am satisfied is increasing, for a change In
| the present system OF representation. Delay
in this matter cannot be long deferred.
/ They why not act at the present, when the
whole question can he fully and fairly con-
sldered, free from party excitement, and
| for the best interests of all. Second The
reform in the Judiciary system of the State
should he thoroughly considered, aud,
! without suggesting the changes, l deem 1t
| safest, as stated In my inaugural address,
| that You take counsel from the legal minds
Of the State, who will proyenecessary guides
and helps to you.
TARIFF TAXATION.
After stating that both friends and foes
| admit the need of tariff reform butdiffer as
| to methods, the message asks whether tha
| abolition of internal revenue taxes on
| whisky and tobacco would bring relief, and
| argues that ii would not. hut would act det-
rimentally to the interests Of the State by
| inducing the greater consumption OF what
are generally considered great injury to
| s0eIetv mud individuals reuuirinp All the
| wholesome restraint the law can throw
around their use. Free tobacco and free
| whisky, therefore mean the imposing
| heavier burdens on the uecessaries OF life.
The abolition OF the compulsory and high
war taxes on raw materials will, alone,
| enable the American manufacturer to com
| pete with foreign labor and capital and
| linus contribute 10 the benefit and advance
the condition Of the lanoring Glasses. The
| result Of our protective tariff policy has
been ruiuous especially to the agricutur.
| let's for at tho present time this great and
general intsrest--the foundation of all
| othOr--is almost paralyzed throughout the
country. Over production, In both manu-
laeture and agriculture, has produced stag
nation. The condition is sad and distress
| ing In some sections, aud what has baen
predicted as the result of the system il
| upon us The increase OF the acreage
! Of tine farming lands, In this and
Foreign countries, with the aid of
labor-saving machinery, has so In
creased production until, like manufac-
| fured goods, cur wheat and corn, and other
| cereals. are down below the producing cost,
| MT lai-t in the cider states, aud unless a
better foreign outlet is furnished, and the
channels of commerce IN all parts Of the
| world opened, inviting the producer and
4 consumer to meet on equal terms in free
market Tor the exchange of their commodl'